Looking for a case

lsstefan · September 3, 2018

Greetings.

I am building a PC for a friend and I'm currently at the case part.

I narrowed it down to a few, but I have some questions and I would also like your opinion on the interior design.

The PC will use an AIO, I'd like a 360 one, will most likely have the RTX2080 2 fans, unless 3 is at a decent price and I can fit it and would also like to make it vertical, if the case supports it. (I know the heating issues with the vertical GPU, but most tests use the included fans).

Design:(? means I'd like input)

white case, black-ish or monochromatic mobo, blue and yellow PSU cables, white or blue LED fans(? blue because of the theme or white to make the interior brighter so you can see better inside), white or black RAM with RGB/solo color(? thinking white can go well with the interior of the case and it won't blend with the mobo so much), white LED strips(?RGB might overdo it).

Case:

Corsair Spec 06

NZXT H500

Phanteks P400

Order of preference: Corsair, Phanteks, NZXT

Let's assume all 3 cases are @80$/Euro. I need 3 fans LED so that's @30$/E more (2 for NZXT, but the only thing I like about that case is the simplicity, I like the RGB strip from Corsair a lot). Case will cost 110.

I also fioud the CM H500P Mesh at 150$/E. It comes with 2x200 RGB fans and 1 exhaust, so that means no fan buying. 200 fan is @20$/E, so it means the case will be 110.

I really like 200 fans and I can also put a 360 as exhaust on the H500P, it also has vertical GPU. Regarding the vertical GPU, one of the issues while testing was the CPU Air cooler. I won't use Air, nor will the AIO be intake, so technically only "cool" air will feed the GPU, thus having lower temps. I won't throttle the GPU for the sake of appearance, but I would like it a lot to make it work. I can't use the CM vertical stand, I need the horizontal PCI lanes for a small WIFI card.(I could try to buy a WIFI mobo, but I will always be restricted to that and usually the price difference exceeds the costs of the wifi card).

So basically, is it better to make the light inside blue for the blue/yellow theme or have it pure white and get the components to blend in and have the PSU cables stand out (i'm towards white imho); Is the H500P worth it for my needs or just go Spec 06 and call it a day?

If you have other case suggestions that will blow mine out of the water, considering the cost involved ofc (not a 200$ case where I need to buy extra fans and stuff, I'd like to hover ~100-120 area).

Thx for the help.

Regards.

TVwazhere · September 4, 2018

On 9/3/2018 at 3:45 AM, lsstefan said:

AIO, I'd like a 360 one

RTX2080 2 fans, also like to make it vertical, if the case supports it. (I know the heating issues with the vertical GPU, but most tests use the included fans).

white case

Is the H500P (Mesh) worth it for my needs or just go Spec 06 and call it a day?

If you have other case suggestions that will blow mine out of the water, considering the cost involved ofc (not a 200$ case where I need to buy extra fans and stuff, I'd like to hover ~100-120 area).

Thx for the help.

Regards.

I would just like to point out that even with any amount of front facing fans, it doe not change the fact that the vertical GPU is directly up against the glass, giving it very little room to breathe. It's not a matter of IF it will thermal throttle, but just how much depending on the stress you subject it to (browsing web vs games vs 3D rendering/torture tests). It's unfortunate you cant use aftermarket solutions that pull the GPU away from the glass more (not blaming you, I understand the reason being the wifi card)

That being said, the CM H500P Mesh has WAY better airflow than any of the cases you listed, which means it willl be able to utilize ANY fans you put into it more effectively. And not knowing how hot the RTX2080 cards will run, historically speaking they'll be pretty warm so you'll appreciate the extra airflow.

Phanteks Makes the Enthoo Pro M SE (<-link) which has a white interior/Gray exterior, comes with 2 fans with their RGB grill around them (compatible with motherboard softwares) and is usually around $110 USD, I'm not sure of the availability in Romania. No Vertical GPU mount though

lsstefan · September 4, 2018

5 hours ago, TVwazhere said:

I would just like to point out that even with any amount of front facing fans, it doe not change the fact that the vertical GPU is directly up against the glass, giving it very little room to breathe. It's not a matter of IF it will thermal throttle, but just how much depending on the stress you subject it to (browsing web vs games vs 3D rendering/torture tests). It's unfortunate you cant use aftermarket solutions that pull the GPU away from the glass more (not blaming you, I understand the reason being the wifi card)

That being said, the CM H500P Mesh has WAY better airflow than any of the cases you listed, which means it willl be able to utilize ANY fans you put into it more effectively. And not knowing how hot the RTX2080 cards will run, historically speaking they'll be pretty warm so you'll appreciate the extra airflow.

Phanteks Makes the Enthoo Pro M SE (<-link) which has a white interior/Gray exterior, comes with 2 fans with their RGB grill around them (compatible with motherboard softwares) and is usually around $110 USD, I'm not sure of the availability in Romania. No Vertical GPU mount though

Thank you for the reply.

I decided to get the mobo with WiFi incorporated, so I can skip the card altogether.

I like the case you mentioned, going to keep it in mind. I also stumbled upon Lian Li Lancool One (although for some reason which i forgot I said I can't use it) and the O11 Dynamic (found a good offer on Air with 3 RGB fans extra, but it's too black...dynamic white is more stylish).

I see CM put out the H500 at 100$, but where I can buy it it's 150, so not worth it.